PRIVACY POLICY

A legal disclaimer

I respect your privacy and am committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how I collect, use, and safeguard your information when you visit my website or work with me as a client.

Who I Am

My name is Mandy Butterworth, a Virtual Assistant operating as a sole trader under the name North Star VA Solutions, in the UK. I am the data controller, which means I decide how and why your personal data is processed.

If you have any questions, you can contact me at:
📧 Email: mandy@northstarvasolutions.co.uk
📞 Phone: +44 (0) 7345 189340

What Data I Collect

I may collect the following personal information:
- Contact details (name, email address, phone number)
- Business information (company name, role, services required)
- Financial details (for invoicing purposes only)
- Communication data (emails, messages, or notes relevant to our work together)

I do not intentionally collect sensitive personal information unless it is necessary for our work and you provide it willingly.

How I Collect Your Data

-       When you fill out my website contact form

-       When you email me directly

-       When you work with me as a client and provide information to deliver services

-       Through third-party tools

 How I Use Your Data

I will only use your data when the law allows me to. Typical uses include:
- Responding to your enquiries
- Delivering Virtual Assistant services you’ve requested
- Managing contracts, invoicing, and payments
- Keeping in touch during the course of our working relationship
- Meeting my legal obligations (e.g., tax records)

Legal Basis for Processing

Under GDPR, I rely on:
- Contract – to provide services you request
- Legitimate interest – to respond to enquiries or maintain contact
- Legal obligation – to keep financial/tax records

How I Store and Protect Your Data

- I store personal data securely on password-protected devices
- I only keep your data as long as necessary: typically for the duration of our working relationship plus up to 7 years (for tax/accounting requirements).
- I will never sell your data to third parties.

​Sharing Your Data

I may share data with trusted third parties that help me run my business (for example, email service providers, cloud storage, invoicing software). These providers are GDPR-compliant and only process data on my behalf.

 Your Rights

You have the right to:
- Access the personal data I hold about you
- Request corrections or updates to your data
- Request deletion of your data (where legally possible)
- Restrict or object to how your data is used
- Withdraw consent at any time

If you wish to exercise these rights, please contact me at mandy@northstarvasolutions.co.uk.

 Cookies & Website Tracking

My website may use cookies or third-party analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) to understand website traffic and improve user experience. You can disable cookies in your browser settings.

​Changes to This Policy

I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The most current version will always be posted on my website.

​Complaints

If you are unhappy with how your data has been handled, please contact me first. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at www.ico.org.uk.

Accessibility Statement

 My Commitment

I am committed to making my website accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of technology or ability.

I want everyone who visits my website to feel welcome and be able to access the information easily. That means I aim to:
- Use clear and simple language wherever possible
- Ensure the website can be navigated by keyboard and screen readers
- Provide text alternatives (alt text) for images
- Maintain good colour contrast for readability

​Known Limitations

While I do my best to meet accessibility standards, I know there may be some areas that could be improved. If you experience any difficulty accessing content, please let me know so I can put it right.

​ Feedback & Contact

If you have any accessibility issues, please contact me:
📧 Email: mandy@northstarvasolutions.co.uk
📞 Phone: +44 (0) 7345 189340

I take feedback seriously and will do my best to respond quickly and make improvements where possible.​